image

Operation London Bridge

About Operation London Bridge

Facebook IconLinkedIN Icon

What is Operation Unicorn?

Operation London Bridge, also known by the code phrase ‘London Bridge is Down’, is a British protocol to be followed when the long-reigning royal, Queen Elizabeth II, passes away. The protocol has complete and comprehensive details on communicating the death news, instructions to officials about their conduct, and the period of official mourning.


Operation Unicorn is a British protocol, which is being followed after the death of the long-reigning royal, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022. The protocol has complete and comprehensive details on communicating the death news, instructions to officials about their conduct, and the period of official mourning. The rule dictates what's to be done after the Queen's demise in Scotland. Operation London Bridge would have followed if the Queen died in London.

Once the death was made public, Holyrood Palace, St Giles' Cathedral, and the Scottish Parliament served as the focal point of gatherings, with a condolence book open to the public at the last location.


The parliamentary business will be suspended immediately for at least six parliamentary days to allow authorities to prepare for the funeral. The parliament will then prepare a condolence motion within 72 hours of reconvening. The Queen's coffin will first lie in repose at Holyrood Palace, followed by a service of reception at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. The casket would then be transported to Waverley station and taken by the Royal Train to London if possible. Otherwise, the coffin would be taken by plane to London and welcomed by the prime minister and cabinet ministers.

Operation London Bridge

Under this protocol, the phrase "London Bridge is Down '' communicated about the Queen's death to newly-elected UK Prime Minister Liz Truss. The protocol has two parts - formalities, which include official announcements, and the impact on society. The plans were first created in the 1960s and updated each year since.

Operation London Bridge also works concurrently with Operation Spring Tide, the plan for her successor's ascension to the British throne. Soon after her death, Prince Charles became the unofficial successor of the Queen.

THE NEWS OF DEATH

The news of the Queen's passing was first communicated by her private secretary and later passed on to PM Truss. The flags were at half-mast within 10 minutes of government officials knowing about her death. The news was communicated to governments of different countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Global Response Centre, based out of a secret location in London, communicated the news to the governments of the 14 other countries of which Elizabeth was Queen. Buckingham Palace also made a TV announcement.

An obit light went off in all commercial radio stations across the UK. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC's) male presenters wore a black ties before the announcement. The network also showed her portraits, accompanied by the national anthem and the public news of her death. During a 12-day mourning period, BBC will require removing all of its comedy programmes and will likely disrupt the TV schedules.

FUNERAL

The Queen's funeral will occur 10 or 11 days after her passing, which will be a public holiday. Following the funeral, the body would be buried in a prepared tomb at King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Here are the latest news from Business Standard

Latest News

Stock Market LIVE: Sensex flat at pre-open, Nifty near 24,000; Asian markets fall on tech sell-off

Sensex Today | Stock Market LIVE Updates Thursday: The GIFT Nifty indicated a positive open. Asian markets declined as investors unwound bets in chip stocks

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 9:08 AM IST

Accumulate Gold on dips in H2CY2026; next bull likely to start in 2027

For the second-half of 2026, upside for Gold and Silver seems to be capped around $4,400 and $90, says Anindya Banerjee, Head of Commodity and Currency Research, Kotak Securities:

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 9:07 AM IST

Aastha Spintex IPO: How to check allotment on BSE, NSE, registrar website

Aastha Spintex IPO: Check share allotment status, latest GMP, and other key details inside

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 9:05 AM IST

Venezuela turns to private sector to fill state void in earthquake relief

Private businesses are rushing to fill the void from the government's earthquake response, with construction, engineering and other firms deploying heavy machinery, supplies, food across the country

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:49 AM IST

ShareChat plans $400 million IPO after turning operationally profitable

The company, commonly known as ShareChat, has become operationally profitable in the first quarter of the year that began April 2026

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:48 AM IST

Apple seeks to buy chips from blacklisted Chinese firms by lobbying US govt

The iPhone maker is seeking to buy memory components from ChangXin Memory Technologies Inc. and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. for use in devices sold in China

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:48 AM IST

US govt in advanced talks with AI companies for voluntary model standards

Washington has tightened oversight of new model releases to ‌flag risks amid concerns advanced AI ​could be misused by military ​intelligence in China, Russia or other countries of concern

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:47 AM IST

Brent crude oil bias may remain bearish-to-neutral in H2CY2026

Mohammed Imran, research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan has a bearish-to-neutral view on Brent through H2CY2026, with a base-case range of $68-72/bbl.

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:34 AM IST

IPO wave builds: ₹4.7-trn pipeline sets stage for H2CY26; NSE, Jio in focus

Analysts believe that IPO activity will depend on improving secondary market sentiment, stable macroeconomic conditions, and continued domestic liquidity

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:20 AM IST

Russian attack on Ukraine shakes Kyiv for hours; 1 killed, several injured

Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, even as Ukraine's own long-range drone campaign against Russian military sites and energy facilities has caused fuel shortages

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:09 AM IST

India, Malaysia discuss ways to deepen defence ties, cyber cooperation

The discussions covered ongoing defence engagements, including military-to-military exchanges, bilateral exercises, training, staff talks, capacity building, maritime cooperation, and cooperation in e

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:09 AM IST

Delhi wakes to heavy rain as IMD issues red alert; Mumbai on orange alert

Morning showers brought respite from intense heat and humidity in Delhi as the IMD warned of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds of up to 60 kmph and multiple spells of rain

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:06 AM IST

Stocks to Watch today: Bharti Airtel, Lupin, CSM Technologies, Coal India

Stocks to Watch today, July 2, 2026: Hero MotoCorp, Tata Technologies, Medi Assist Healthcare, and NLC India are among the top stocks to remain in focus during today's trading session.

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:06 AM IST

Chip-maker Micron announces $250 million investment in Trump Accounts

A Trump account can be opened for any American child under 18 with a Social Security number

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 8:01 AM IST

'Talks are going well': J D Vance on US-Iran negotiations in Qatar

US Vice President JD Vance says technical discussions are underway; nuclear talks to begin soon

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:53 AM IST

Oil prices fall over 1% as US-Iran talks ease supply disruption fears

Brent futures ‌were down 73 cents, or 1.02%, to $70.84 a barrel by 0102 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 83 cents, or 1.21%, to $67.75 a barrel

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:47 AM IST

US, Iran talks conclude in Doha, focused on Strait of Hormuz, frozen funds

The next meeting will take place ​after funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ​Khamenei, who is due to be buried on July 9

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:43 AM IST

Can Sensex, Nifty hit new highs by Dec 2026? Tech analysts decode charts

Technical analysts at SBI Securities and Choice Broking expect the Nifty to retest record highs around 26,350, and Sensex to rally toward 89,000 in an optimistic scenario.

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:40 AM IST

Cash market turnover declines in June after touching 22-month high in May

Average daily cash market turnover across the NSE and BSE fell 7 per cent in June, while derivatives activity edged up on higher volumes during the month's final expiry sessions

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:40 AM IST

Belgium's great escape: Late heroics end Senegal's World Cup dream

Romelu Lukaku ignited Belgium's comeback in the 86th minute, arriving perfectly inside the box to convert Thomas Meunier's low cross and halve the deficit.

Updated On: 02 Jul 2026 | 7:32 AM IST